Feb. 3, 1959 infamously became known as “The Day The Music Died,” after a plane carrying pop music icons, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson, a.k.a. the “Big Bopper,” went down killing the famed musicians.
Over fifty years later, the National Transportation Safety Board is deciding whether or not they should re-open the case, after a retired pilot and aircraft dispatcher insisted that the investigation be continued.
L.J. Coon has told the Des Moines Register that they should look into whether or not the planes rudder pedals were at fault for the planes demise, and not the initial pilot error and terrible weather that was believed to have taken the plane down.
Roger Peterson, the pilot that day in 1959, was 21-years old, and according to Coon, Peterson may have tried to land the plane by gliding it to a safe landing, but the right wing interfered with that process causing the plane to lose control and crash.
Coon states, “I believe that the NTSB will review pilot Peterson’s diagnostic actions in the aircraft during this 3.5-minute flight and realize the heroic efforts that took place in those 4.9 miles.”
The National Transportation Safety Board responded to Coon’s claims and acknowledged his theory by stating, “You have gotten our attention.”
Meanwhile Eric Weiss, spokesman for the NTSB, told Register that, “Our cases are never closed, and we get these from time to time. The key is if there is new information not previously considered by the board.”
Photo By: NTBS
